Phyco-Remediation of Dairy Effluents and Biomass Valorization: A Sustainable Approach

The world’s energy demand is rising dramatically with increasing human population and economy. The fossil fuels that comprise crude oil, natural gas and coal are the major energy sources required for the transport and industries. The burning of fossil fuels not only emits greenhouse gases but also produces some persistent organic matter into the atmosphere such as carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds that creates serious environmental and human health issues. In addition, vast growth of industrial activities in the last few decades has led to making of an enormous amount of industrial wastewater. Fossil fuels and freshwater are limited nonrenewable resources that will deplete in the next few years; hence the world has been forced to look for new renewable and sustainable energy sources. Microalgae have been recently recognized as one of the promising feedstocks for biodiesel production. Since microalgae have the capability to grow in wastewater as well as remediate nutrients, which translate it an environment friendly and economically viable biofuel feedstock. The present chapter emphasizes on the possibility of utilizing dairy wastewater as nutrients for microalgae cultivation and subsequent nutrient remediation, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. In the end, limitations and economic assessment of dairy wastewater-derived microalgal biomass and biofuel have been assessed. The study compiled in the present chapter indicates that the algae grown on dairy wastewater have been a prospective source of low-cost biomass/lipid for production of biofuels.